Peter Voulkos was a West Coast sculptor known for incorporating an array of modernist influences into his ceramics practice. Widely acknowledged as the progenitor of a profound transformation in American ceramics known variously as American Clay Revolution or the California Clay Movement, Voulkos is considered the seminal figure in the development of contemporary ceramic art in America.
As both a working artist and educator, Voulkos was instrumental in unleashing a transformative wave of creativity in clay. As the originating force behind a novel, uniquely American movement in ceramics, Voulkos’ legacy and present-day influence on the medium cannot be overstated.
Voulkos studied painting and printmaking under the GI Bill at Montana State College after serving as an airplane gunner in the US Army in World War II. He soon discovered a passion for sculpture, graduating with an MFA in 1952.
An influential educator with a lengthy career at various institutions, Voulkos established the ceramics department at the Los Angeles County Art Institute (now the Otis College of Art and Design), where he taught from 1954–59, and at the University of California, Berkeley, where he taught from 1959 until his retirement in 1985. He also taught at Black Mountain College and the Archie Bray Foundation.
Voulkos toured universities throughout the United States conducting live ceramic workshops to audiences until his death. Notable students of his include Paul Soldner, John Mason, Ken Price, Billy Al Bengston, Ron Nagle, Stephen de Staebler and James Melchert.
Voulkos was the recipient of many awards throughout his career, including the Gold Medal at the International Exposition of Ceramics (1995, Cannes, France); the Rodin Museum Prize at the First Paris Biennale (1955, Musée d'Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, France); a Guggenheim Fellowship (1984); a Distinguished Artist Award for Lifetime Achievement (1997, College Art Association); and honorary doctorates from four American art schools.
Artworks by Voulkos have been exhibited at major institutions around the world, including at the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY); the Museum of Art and Design (New York, NY); the Smithsonian Museum of American Art (Washington, D.C.); the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); the San Francisco Museum of Art (San Francisco, CA); the Seattle Art Museum (Seattle, WA); the American Craft Museum (New York, NY) and the National Museum of Modern Art (Tokyo, Japan).
Voulkos has artworks in in the permanent collections of many major international institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY); the Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY); the Smithsonian Institution (Washington, DC); the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, CA); the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Philadelphia, PA); the Museum of Fine Arts (Boston, MA); and many more.
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"Teabowl" by Peter Voulkos
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and woodfired signed by artist
Stoneware, Glaze
$15,000
H 23 in W 20 in D 18 in
Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh
By SunKoo Yuh
Located in St. Louis, MO
Contemporary Figurative Ceramic Sculpture, Glazed, 23 x 20 x 18 in, Sunkoo Yuh The ceramic sculptures of SunKoo Yuh are composed of tight groupings of various forms including plants...
Ceramic, Porcelain, Glaze
Basket with handle
By Ken Ferguson
Located in Kansas City, MO
Ken Ferguson Basket with handle Material: Stoneware, glaze Year: Circa 1980 Size: 18 x 13 inches Stamped Kenneth Richard Ferguson was an American c...
Stoneware, Glaze
Totem Sculpture with cube
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
This masterwork is currently on display at the Zimmerman Gallery in Carmel, CA Please note: The base is not included. We will guide you through a simple installation process for out...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Apple Topper totem
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
Apple topper totem delights the viewer in royal blue with strong color accents. The colums are carved in great detail, yet simplicity prevails. The apple finalizes the design with ir...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Mythical Haze
Located in Bozeman, MT
Albrecht was half way through his MFA program (ceramics) at the University of Iowa when he was deployed to Iraq (03-04 medic/security work). His work explores the collision of war m...
Clay, Stoneware, Glaze
$1,555Sale Price|40% Off
H 20 in W 18 in D 13 in
Not the Priceless Historical Ceramic Jar! (Funny, Witty, Installation, ~40% OFF)
Located in Kansas City, MO
Allyson George Not the Priceless Historical Ceramic Jar! (Funny, Witty, Installation) Porcelain, glaze, stoneware, enamel spray paint, epoxy Year: 2025 Size Large Sitting Cup: 20 x 1...
Enamel
$5,500
H 85 in W 16 in D 7 in
"Body Parts" Garden Sculpture - Large Totem -Glazed Ceramic by Marc Zimmerman
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
This masterpiece is exhibited in the Zimmerman Gallery, Carmel CA. Please note: The base is not included. We will guide you through a simple installation process for outdoor or indo...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
H 10.5 in W 8 in D 8 in
"Medium Yellow Hive", Contemporary, Ceramic, Sculpture, Design, Stoneware, Glaze
By Bean Finneran 1
Located in St. Louis, MO
"Medium Yellow Hive", Contemporary, Ceramic, Sculpture, Design, Stoneware, Glaze
Ceramic, Stoneware, Glaze, Underglaze
$4,720Sale Price|44% Off
H 72 in W 12 in D 6 in
G Totem - Ceramic Sculpture by Marc Zimmerman for Outdoor Garden and Indoors
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
This masterpiece is exhibited in the Zimmerman Gallery, Carmel CA. Please note: The base is not included. We will guide you through a simple installation process for outdoor or indo...
Ceramic, Clay, Glaze
Contemporary Western Vase
Located in Bozeman, MT
Albrecht was half way through his MFA program (ceramics) at the University of Iowa when he was deployed to Iraq (03-04 medic/security work). His work explores the collision of war m...
Clay, Stoneware, Glaze
$1,200
H 13 in W 9 in D 6 in
"Pretty Pickle" Stoneware, Ceramics, Food, Children's Toy Motif, Humor
By Jeff Rubio
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Pretty Pickle" is an original piece by Jeff Rubio made from stoneware, glaze, epoxy clay. This pieces measures 13"h x 9"w x 6"d and comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity. ...
Stoneware, Glaze, Epoxy Resin
Decorative Porcelain Plate I (MADE TO ORDER)
By Melanie Sherman
Located in Kansas City, MO
THIS PIECE IS MADE TO ORDER. LEAD TIME MAY VARY DEPENDING ON THE ARTIST'S AVAILABILITY. PLEASE INQUIRE. CUSTOMIZATION SUCH ADDING PATTERNS, LETTERS, NAMES, ETC. IS POSSIBLE. Hand Bu...
Luster, Porcelain, Glaze
Sold
H 4.25 in W 6.5 in D 5.5 in
Large Tea Bowl (blue glaze) - FOR SPENCER
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
Peter Voulkos Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.25 x 6.5 x 5.5 in Signed (bottom) COA provided
Stoneware, Glaze
Two Large Tea Bowls (brown and blue glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME Peter Voulkos Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.5 x 6 x 6 in Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood ...
Stoneware, Glaze
Large Tea Bowl (blue glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME! Peter Voulkos Large Teabowl (blue glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.25 x 6.5 x 5.5 in Signed (bottom) COA provided Ref.: 924802-1003 Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Stoneware, Glaze
Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze)
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Kansas City, MO
(60% OFF LIST PRICE - LIMITED TIME!) Peter Voulkos Large Tea Bowl (brown glaze) Stoneware and wood fired Circa mid-1990s 4.5 x 6 x 6 in Signed (bottom) COA provided Ref.: 924802-1004 Peter Voulkos (popular name of Panagiotis Voulkos; January 29, 1924 – February 16, 2002) was an American artist of Greek descent. He is known for his abstract expressionist ceramic sculptures, which crossed the traditional divide between ceramic crafts and fine art. While his early work was fired in electric and gas kilns, later in his career he primarily fired in the anagama kiln of Peter Callas, who had helped to introduce Japanese wood firing aesthetics in the United States. After serving in the United States Army during the Second World War, Voulkos studied painting and printmaking at Montana State College, in Bozeman (now Montana State University), where he was also introduced to ceramics; Frances Senska...
Stoneware, Glaze
Clay Charger
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Missouri, MO
Claycharger, 1980 By Peter Voulkos (1924-2002) Diameter: 21" Height: 5" Signed and Dated on the Bottom Few artists can revolutionize an ancient medium, but Peter Voulkos did just th...
Clay
vase by Peter Voulkos
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Rare bottle vase form by Peter Voulkos. midcentury modern. Peter Voulkos stoneware and glaze 11.25 x 4.75 x 4.75” circa 1960 signed “Voulkos” on base A West Coast potter and sculpt...
Ceramic, Glaze
Untitled platter
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Peter Voulkos stoneware, porcelain, slip, woodfired fired 22 x 4.5 x 21" (inches) 1979 Signed on bottom “Voulkos 79” provenance- Toshiko Takaezu collection *note, very slight restora...
Clay
Early Face Bottle
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and glaze
Stoneware, Glaze
rare bottle with drawing
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
stoneware and glaze signed Voulkos and ABF (Archie Bray Foundation) Contemporary of Rudy Autio, Frances Senska, Ken Price, Hans Hofmann, Franz Kline, ...
Stoneware
large lidded vessel
By Peter Voulkos
Located in Morton Grove, IL
Vintage lidded vessel Stoneware and glaze Circa late 40's/ early 50's Provenance- from the Bob and Gennie DeWeese estate